The Mandala Lady:
This question usually comes after they tell me that they are afraid to color because they might ruin whatever it is they're coloring because they don't know what colors to use.

For most of the mandalas that I color, I generally stick to 6 colors (and their variations):

"Funny Face" Mandala (primary/secondary colors)

Primary Colors:

Yellow

Red

Blue

Secondary Colors:

Orange

Green

Purple

The key to using these two sets of colors is knowing which ones complements the other:

Red Green-->

Yellow Purple-->

Blue Orange-->

Notice in the "Funny Face" mandala how you see instances of reds next greens, yellows next to purples, and oranges next blues. You'll also see instances where they are all mixed up...which goes to show how all these colors work well together. I'll have "Funny Face" and "Pathway" in my booth tomorrow at the market.

So when you're coloring and see that you have a lot of blues in your coloring, start adding some orange.

"Pathway" Mandala using only 6 shades of grey

Just to give you a different answer to this question...who says you have to use colors?

Here's an example of coloring with greys...with the focus on gradations of lights and darks to give it dimension.

Early spring is the season for Raab--the tender, sweet flowering shoots of our overwintered kale, collards, cabbage, and tat soy greens. Raab is easy to use in the kitchen--it can be steamed, stir-fried, roasted, or used in a salad. You can use raab any way you might cook broccoli, except that it cooks quicker.

As always, we offer free recipes at our booth. This week's recipes include Roasted Raab, Leek Pie, and Green Garlic Soup. See you at market!

Each type is only $5 this week.

Claude Winter (Booth #20) also has eggs: unique, hand painted eggs with delicate designs. Check out Claude's eggs, just ahead as you enter the market.

Hand-painted Egg by Claude Winter

And just inside the door, Norton Creek (Booth #1) has free range eggs for eating, hunting & dyeing: take home a dozen - or two - for your Easter pursuits! Maybe you will choose a chicken to roast as well!

Norton Creek Free Range Eggs

When it comes to eggs, the Indoor Market has eggs-actly what you want!

The Mandala Lady:
Most people ask this question because they want to know what ones to use to be able to get the bright colors that they see in my colorings.

I use what's called an "artist quality" brand pencil: namely Prismacolor. Several brands of artist quality pencils exist that are equally as good (or maybe even better) such as Faber Castel, Derwent, Lyra, Staedler, etc. For me, I find the Prismacolor pencils blend the best for the style of coloring I do...burnishing.

With quality pencils, the price goes up dramatically from your typical brand of color pencil that you see in most stores...which tend to be chalky, a lot less vibrant, and lack any real blending capability. On average a 12 set of Prismacolor sells between $10-18...while a 12 set of the typical brand sells between $2-3.

For a really good in-between brand, that gives you good color and better blending, I recommend Prang color pencils...which you can usually buy between $4-6. Locally in Corvallis I've seen them at Bi-Mart, Creative Craft and Frame (Kings & Buchanan) and sometimes at the office supply stores.

Another option would be to go to an art supply store where they sell Prismacolor pencils (Creative Craft and Frame carries them). Chances are they sell them as individual pencils ($1.50-$2 a piece) as well as in sets. Buy just a couple of individual colors just so you can try them out and to experience the difference between the $2 set of pencils, the $5 set of pencils, and the artist quality pencils.

Prismacolor Pencil Set

Prang Pencil Set

Find the pencils that work best for you and that inspire you to want to do lots more coloring! :-)

From now until the end of the 2013 market season,
they are marked down to $2!

From Given Back Bird Houses...

First there was the original design, Cedar driftwood Bat House. Then, last week, Given Back Bird Houses debuted their rare wood Wall Plaques - a sophisticated, decorative addition to any indoor or outdoor setting.

This week, Amen and Maria will bring out their collaborative work "Windblown Light". It was painted in full color and then layered with sepia tones for a rich, not-quite-monochromatic palette. The view is looking from North Jetty across the Siuslaw River, to the South Jetty in Florence, Oregon. It is an original painting by Maria, which was then framed expertly in driftwood by Amen.

"Windblown Light" by Maria

If you prefer your artwork in 3-D, Given Back Bird Houses will have their beautiful assortment of one-of-a-kind bird houses, feeders and pollinator houses. Your wild friends will thank you for adding some true habitats to your backyard just in time for spring.